Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

Richard Nunn Chair, Governing Council Simcoe Hall The University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 1A1 March 11, 2013 Dear Mr. Nunn, On behalf of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), I am writing to you to express our concerns about the proposal to convert the University of Torontos back campus field into an artificial pitch. CAPE is an organization representing over 5,800 doctors and concerned citizens from across the country. We protect human health by protecting the planet and have many successes with pesticide bans and coal-plant closures since our organization was founded in 1994. As a doctors organization, we feel the elimination of an extensive green space and its replacement by a sterile construction made of asphalt and nylon would be a major environmental degradation. The removal of natural, self-renewing trees and grass in favour of synthetic products will be deleterious to the health of the ecosystem, which is, of course, closely linked to human health and well-being. We regret that a university with a distinguished medical faculty, and which professes deep concern for the environment, should consider such a step, and ask you, as Chair of Governing Council, to convey our strong recommendation that the project not be pursued. Sincerely,

Gideon Forman Executive Director

130 Spadina Avenue, Suite 301 Toronto, ON M5V 2L4 Tel: 416-306-2273 Fax: 416-960-9392 www.cape.ca